33 



lous externally, the lower third hirsute -within — on pedicels one-fourth 

 to half an inch in length, deep scarlet, segments purple, unchanged in 

 drying. 



Petals obovate roundish, shorter than the stamens and pistil or 

 calyx segments ; buds and flowers erect ; style exsert beyond the sta- 

 mens; capitate stigma, has a white frosty exudation or flocculose 

 tomentum attached ; purple-like color. 



Stamens exsert — the four opposite the petals shortest, flattened fila- 

 ments inserted a little lower down ; anthers yellow, striped with a scar- 

 let line along the back, tipped with a crimson macro or exsert con- 

 nective, oblong linear, fixed near the middle, versatile. Flowers 

 diurnal. 



Capsules erect, somewhat curved or ascending, from three-fourths 

 to one inch in length, on stout pedicels from one-fourth to half an inch 

 in length, persistent for years ; linear, sub-quadrangular, four-celled, 

 four-valved, opening at the apex ; valves recurve-expanding, separat- 

 ing from the persistent central placenta, seeds compressed, with a thin 

 membranous testa, linear-oblong appendiculate, ascending in a single 

 row in each cell. 



This singular and beautiful shrub is found from 600 to 2,000 feet 

 above the level of the sea, growing on open sterile rocks and clayey 

 soils. 



November 14, 1859. 



President in the Chair. 



Dr. Kellogg read a description of a new species of Mentzelia, from 

 Cerros Island, presented by Dr. J. A. Veatch. 



M. cordata, (Kellogg,) Heartleafed Mentzelia. — Stem from 

 eighteen inches to two feet in height, branches alternate, densely hir- 

 sute throughout, with short, white, stiff glochidiate hairs ; few simple 

 and barbed hairs intermixed. 



Leaves alternate, cordate lobed, or rounded cordate palmate lobed, 

 somewhat irregularly obtusely serrate, hoary hirsute, five to seven- 

 nerved, on stout petioles about the length of the lamina ; bracteoles 

 lanceolate, about half the length of the pedicels. 



Flowers in a somewhat condensed terminal panicle, on pedicels one- 

 half of an inch or more in length ; flowers numerous, whitish, petals 

 oblanceolate cuneate, pubescent upon the back, erect-spreading, united 

 at the base, (?) about one inch in length. Style simple ; sixty or 

 more stamens, all filiform, exsert, inserted into the base of corolla (?^ 

 calycine segments linear-lanceolate, one-half the length of petals. 



Capsules turbinate, five-valved and five parietal placentas, each 

 3 



